Automatic plate-lifter



"(No Model.)

G. W. BEST. AUTOMATIC PLATE LIFTER.

No. 516,342. PatentedMar. 13,-1894.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE l/V. BEST, OF MORRISTOWN, VERMONT.

AUTOMATIC PLATE-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,342, dated March13, 1894.

I Application filed May 16,1893. Serial No. 474,405- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:v I

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BEST, a citizen of the United States,residing at Morristown, in the county of Lamoille and State of Vermont,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticPlate-Lifters; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in a new and improved wire plate lifter, which isespecially designed for lifting hot pie-plates and removing them fromthe stove or oven, and which is so constructed that its slide or movablepart will automatically lock the plate in the holder and render itimpossible for the plate to slip or to be accidentally dropped.

My invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof my novel plate lifter. Fig. 2isa side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is atop plan View.

Referring to the several parts by their designating numerals:'The mainpart or body of my automatic plate lifter is formed of a single piece ofwire, of sufficient diameter, to give it the requisite strength, whichis bent to form a convenient oval handle, 2, and the wire is thentwisted upon itself at the inner end of this handle, at 3, thus addinggreatly tothe strength of the article. The side-pieces 1, 1, of the bodydiverge slightly towardtheir free ends, and are there curved down andinward, forming the hooks 4, 4.

5 indicates the adjustable slide, which is formed of a single piece ofspring wire,curve d centrally at its outer end to form the dependingfinger-piece 6, which extends down between the side-pieces 1 of thelifter; the slidewire being coiled into spirals on each side at theupper end of this finger-piece, forming bearings, 7, 7, which fit snuglyand slide upon the sides 1 of the main body. The slide-wire extends upfrom these bearing-spirals, and is then coiled in the spring-coils 8, 8;which lie in planes at right-angles to the bearing-spirals; the wirethen extending down and curving out below'the side-pieces 1 formingshoulders 9, 9, which bear against the underside of said parts 1, whenthe free ends of the slide are bent downwardly and slightly rearward,and then forward and slightly outward at rightangles, forming the hooks10, 10;

In using this lifter, the slide having been drawn back by thefinger-piece, 6, the main hooks 4, 4, are passed over the far edge ofthe pie plate, when the slide is slid up until its hooks 10, 10, engageunder the near side or edge of the plate. The lifter is then raised byits handle, and the plate carried to the desired spot. As the slidemeets the plate, and its end-hooks are pushed, by pressing forward thefinger-piece 6, under the plate, this movement of the slightly inclinedfree ends of the slide-hooks draws the slide-shoulders!) down below theside-pieces 1, 1, thus compressing or coiling tighter the upperspring-coils 8; and the upward pressure exerted by these spring-coils onthe slide-hooks will automatically lock the slide to the plate, thusfirmly looking or securing the plate in the lifter, and rendering itimpossible for it to slip or be accidentally dropped. The slide can beeasily freed from the plate and slid back by pressing forward thespring-coils 8 with the thumb and drawing back the finger-piece 6 withthe forefinger.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and advantages of my automaticplate lifter will be clearly understood. It will be seen that as theslide is slid forward it gradually draws the hooked outer ends 4,4,nearer together, thus automatically adjusting the lifter to any size ofplate which it is desired to lift; while the slide, as above described,automatically locks the plate in the lifter and retains it untilreleased by hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

In a plate lifter, the combination with a body having sidepieces eachprovided with a hooked extremity to engage the plate on one sidethereof, of a slide consisting of a piece the same, said hooks beingadapted to engage of spring wire having loops bent at its oppotheopposite side of the plate, substantially site sides said loops beingadapted to engage as set forth.

the side pieces of the body, the central por- In testimony whereoflaffixmy signature in 5 tion of said slide between said loops being presenceof two witnesses.

bent down below the said side pieces and the ends of said slide beingbent up between the GEORGE BEST side pieces above the plane thereof andhav- Witnesses:

ing their extremities bent down between said WARREN F. SHELDON,

[0 side pieces and provided with hooks below FRANK L. BURR.

